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The full-time and on-call Barnstaple firefighter, who has been in the service for more than 28 years, knew something wasn't right so jumped out of his car and ran half a mile up the road towards the Ash Mill junction to see what was going on.

Off-duty firefighter Simon Cole tried to save the life of crash victim Jordan Clarke after a crash on the A361 in June

He said traffic was at a standstill and people were getting out of their cars to see what was wrong, so he decided to use his initiative and see if he could help.

Simon said: "When I got there I could tell it was a severe collision.

"The crash involved a black Volkswagen Polo and a van that had been towing a trailer.

"An Audi A4 had just managed to avoid the collision but had been forced to drive up a bank to do so.

By coincidence, two more off-duty firefighters - Chris Battle from Oxfordshire and Neal Lewis from Newton Abbot - had also become stuck in the traffic nearby and came to the scene to see if they could assist.

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When the ambulance crew got to the scene and set themselves up, Simon said they performed a surgical procedure in the road to prepare Jordan to be airlifted to hospital.

But sadly, Jordan never made it to hospital and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

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A woman who was a passenger in the van was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with serious hip injuries, while the driver of the van and the Audi driver escaped uninjured.

Both Simon and Neal were given commendations by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service for their "brave and selfless" efforts.

The full commendation details for firefighters Simon Cole and Neal Lewis

Firefighter Neal Lewis

On the morning of 18 June, whilst returning from standby duty in North Devon and caught in a tailback caused by a road traffic collision on the A361 near South Molton.

Neal stopped to undertake a risk assessment and to provide initial casualty care to a female trapped in her vehicle.

Satisfied that sufficient care was in place, he then accompanied Group Manager Rick Selley to the second vehicle across a debris strewn area, approximately 100 metres away, where first aid was being administered by firefighter Simon Cole and an Oxfordshire Crew Manager Chris Battle, to a trapped male driver.

Crew Manager Battle quickly assessed the situation and decided that a snatch rescue was required which was then undertaken at great risk as the vehicle had not been stabilised.

As soon as the casualty was out of the vehicle, firefighter Cole and Crew Manager Battle undertook CPR whilst Neal sought out a defibrillator.

With no other resources available, until the paramedics took over, all three continued to work on the casualty who had severe and life threatening injuries, in particularly traumatic and challenging circumstances.

This was undoubtedly a selfless, brave and outstanding action for which Neal is duly commended.

Firefighter Simon Cole

Simon stopped to provide assistance at the same road traffic collision. He too assisted with the male casualty who was trapped in his car.

Simon put his own life at risk to help extract the casualty from the unstable car.

Once out of the vehicle he undertook CPR with Crew Manager Battle and continued to work on the casualty until the paramedics were able to take over.

These were, as already explained, challenging and traumatic circumstances.

Simon is commended for his brave, selfless and outstanding action.

Simon said: "I was just trying to be a good Samaritan.

"It is nice to be recognised and I'm proud of the achievement, but you've just got to help when people are in need.

"That said, it is a bitter sweet feeling because obviously the young man didn't make it.

"I wish to convey my sincere condolences to Jordan Clarke's family and close friends as a result of his passing."

Tributes poured in for Jordan on social media.

Grindstone Tattoo in Tiverton, where Jordan worked as a tattoo and body artist, posted: "It is with terrible sorrow I must inform you that our resident tattooist Jordan Clarke sadly passed away today following a RTA.

"Our thoughts are with his mother, family and friends and I ask that you respect their privacy at this difficult time.